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Donating Your Old Smartphone Could Change Someone's Life

Date:02-Sep-16Author: Ryan Collins

Help deaf blind people stay connected by donating your used smartphone

With an estimated 25.5 million unused mobiles in homes and businesses around Australia, a potential life changing device could be sitting in your drawer. MobileMuster and Able Australia are calling out for old smartphones to support those Australians with no hearing and sight and help them reconnect with friends, family and the wider community.

MobileMuster, the official not-for-profit Government accredited mobile phone recycling program, will be collecting unwanted smartphones during the month of September and all eligible smartphones* will be donated to Able Australia to improve the digital literacy of the deafblind community. The phones will be used to educate people with deafblindness on how to use speech recognition and Braille readers via mobile technology.

Able Australia's Scott Darkin, says “Deafblindness is very much Australia's forgotten disability. The smartphones donated will help deafblind people stay connected, which is something most of us take for granted. These donated smartphones will also increase their mobility, independence and help them navigate their way around their community.

“Nine out of ten deafblind people will experience depression and anxiety and the simple act of donating an unwanted phone is an easy way to show your support to Australia’s deafblind community. Your old phone could be the vital link that transforms a socially isolated person with deafblindness into an active member of their local community,” he continued.

Australia has over 31 million mobile phone subscribers who, on average, replace their handsets every 18 to 24 months.

Spyro Kalos from MobileMuster says, “We know there are approximately 25.5 million unused mobiles sitting in homes and business around Australia, some of these may be smartphones that could help the deafblind community. Now is the perfect time to donate your unwanted mobile phone to a great cause.

“Each smartphone will be checked to confirm it is working and any data left of the phone will be wiped to ensure privacy. MobileMuster will also ensure that any mobiles and accessories that can’t be reused will be recycled by MobileMuster in a safe, secure and ethical way, with all data being destroyed in the recycling process,” he affirmed.

How You Can Help

You can donate an unwanted smartphone free of charge from anywhere in Australia by simply downloading the free reply paid label. For more information and to download the label, click here.

*Smartphone eligibility: Able Australia requests that smartphones should be operational and be in good condition (no cracked screens). Ideally, iPhone 4 and above, Samsung Galaxy S4 and above, LG Nexus 7 and above and Nokia Lumia 540 and above. Include the charger if you have one but this is not essential. Please turn off and remove the device from Find My iPhone app or the Android equivalent and erase your content and settings.